Explainer | Strep throat – all you need to know about the contagious, sometimes deadly infection, and how to avoid it
- Is your throat sore? Is swallowing painful? Have you got a fever? You may have an infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria
- You can catch it by breathing in droplets, touching an infected surface, or sharing food or drink with an infected person
Changes in air temperature mean it’s the season of sore throats. But not all sore throats are made equal – some are caused by viruses; others by bacteria.
Strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis) is an illness which, while usually mild, can be painful – and sometimes deadly. The United Kingdom early this month reported the deaths of six children from a rare invasive Group A strep illness.
Here’s everything you should know about strep throat, from its symptoms to treatment.
What is strep throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils, caused by group A Streptococcus – strep A.
“Dozens of different types of streptococcal bacteria can infect humans,” says Dr Kristin Moffitt, an infectious disease doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Group A strep has a specific carbohydrate attached to the surface. Group B strep is a different bacteria with a different carbohydrate on its surface that causes different infections – it is not a common cause of strep throat.
